Eraser



Nov. 7, 1950 H. H. RAYMOND ET AL 2,528,709

ERASER Filed Dec. 6, 1949 7 i IIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIlIIIIIIII/fl 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII,

JNVENTORS HORACE H. RAYMOND SAMUEL o. RAYMOND Attorneys Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERASER Horace H. Raymondand Samuel 0.*Raymond,r.

Berlin, Conn, assignors to Raymond Engineer-- ing Laboratory,

Incorporated;- Middletown,

Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application December 6, 1949, Serial No."1 31,426-

11 Claims; (01. 120-36),

This invention relates to erasers and, more particularly, to an eraser of the type provided with means for causing adherence to the eraser of the erasure particles which occur as a result of an erasing operation.

Erasers are generally formed-from gradually expendable friction material such as rubber and,

, when an erasure is made with such eraser, erasure particles are formed. When erasures are made, the resulting erasur particles become disposed upon the sheet or other material upon which the erasur is made and have to be removed therefrom. This-is generally done by shaking the sheet or article,'or blowing the erasures away. When such erasures are made-upon a sheet of paper disposed, for example, around the platenof a typewriter, the erasure particles resulting from the erasure frequently become disposed on the moving parts of the typewriter and not infrequently become-lodged between moving parts thereof. Frequently, the eraser'material conimprovements in tains abrasive articles, "such as emery, pumic or the like, and when such erasure particles contain,

friction material of the type referred .to,'wear of the parts of the typewriter .is accelerated.

Also, the accumulation of erasure particles'be tween the movable parts of a typewriterimpedes the operational efficiency of the typewriter." How-. ever, even whengerasures are madeuponsheets or other material not disposed in a typewriter, removal of erasure particles from the sheet generally poses :a problem of disposal,-and accumulation of such erasure'particles usually presents an untidy appearance on a desk or other surfacewhere erasures are madei- It is an object of the'present invention: to over-. i

come the foregoing difficulties and inconveniences by providing an eraser member formed from.

gradually expendable friction-1 material: having interspersed. throughout said material very-finelydivided and evenly distributed magnetizable particles suchas relatively fin iron particles, and

associating with the eraser magnetic means which will impose" a magnetic ficld-zupon the eraser,

whereby the. erasureparticles-formed from an erasing operation which also contain some of said magnetizableparticles will adhere to the eraser by magnetic attraction.

It is another object of the inventionto provide a permanent magnet movable into and out of enga ement withan eraser memberformedfrom particles,

material containing magnetizable whereby at'the comp etion of an erasure operation, themagnet may be moved out of engagement with-the eraser-emember so asat least sub:

stantially to reduce the magnetic'fiux within me eraser in'order that the accumulated erasure particles'adhering to thermerasertmaybe readily re- A moved therefrom by simply blowing upon'or tap-5 ping the eraser member."

Other objects of the'invention include the pros" vision of other detailsand refinements by which the'magnet anderasermember are supported-in operative relation and alsoinclude manipulating a meansby which the magnet'may be moved into and out of engagementwiththe eraser member.

Details of-the foregoing objects and-of'the in- Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the magnet-moved-to a position .in which:it is separatedfrom the eraser. member.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionalview taken'on the line 4-4 of Fig-2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective-view of a detail of the invention.

Fig.6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a slightly different. embodiment of means for. at-

taching .the eraser member .to .theholder-therefor.

Referring to thedrawing, the eraser embodying the presentinvention comprises-a casinglfl 7' which is preferably formed to constitute two parts .12 and 14 which respectively telescope as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. The interfitting sleeves l6 and 18 on the two parts frictionally engage each other so as normally to hold. the two parts in assembled relationship. Theparts l2 and 14 may be formed from any suitable ma-.

terial such as plastic or light-weight metalsuch asv aluminum, whereby such' parts may. be inex-. pensively formed while possessing used for all normal erasing operations.

The part I4 is provided atone end withan opening 29 in which an iron or steel cup 22. is

inserted so as to Ice-fixed within said opening, such as by a press fit or otherwise, whereby said cup may be inexpensively united with the part I4. Firmly inserted within the cup 22 so as to extend therebeyond and'also beyond the adjacent suitable strength to enable the eraser to be successfully end of the part I4 is an eraser member 24 which is formed from any suitable friction material that is gradually expendable, of which either natural or synthetic rubber are several examples. Evenly dispersed throughout the expendable friction material of the eraser member 24 is an appreciable amount of very finely divided magnetizable particles such as soft iron filings illustrated in ex aggerated fashion in Figs. 2 and 3, said magnetizable particles being thoroughly dispersed to a sufficient extent that, when the eraser is used for an erasing operation and erasure particles become separated from the eraser member, such erasure particles will contain some of the magnetizable particles. For purposes of the present description and the appended claims, the cup 22 and the eraser member 24 may be considered as a composite eraser member.

Slidably disposed within the hollow interior of casing H) is an elongated permanent magnet 25 for purposes of providing magnetic fiux. Said magnet is preferably formed from an alloy such as is now sold under the trade name Alnico and comprises a mixture of iron, aluminum and nickel; cobalt and copper sometimes being added. Such alloys, when magnetized, exhibit unusually high magnetic force or fiux. In the present illustration, the exemplary magnet 26 has been shown as being cylindrical, but such shape is not to be considered restrictive. The end 28 of magnet 26 is preferably made so as to be fiat, thus enabling said end to have extensive contact with the flat end surface 36 of cup 22. When the end 28 of magnet 26 is in engagement with end 30 of cup 22, and since eraser member 24 I is snugly fitted into cup 22, the magnetic force or flux exhibited by magnet 25 will be imposed upon the cup 22 and the magnetizable particles within the eraser member 24, whereby a relatively strong magnetic field surrounds the eraser member 24.

Thus, when the erasure particles containing magnetizable particles become separated from the eraser member 24 during an erasure operation, the erasure particles, which have been indicated 32, in Fig. 2, adhere to the eraser member 24 through magnetic attraction. However, when the magnet 26 is moved away from engagement with the cup 22, as shown in Fig. 3, the

magnetic field surrounding the eraser member 24 is materially lessened so that, upon either blowing upon the. eraser member 24- or slightly tappin the same, the erasure particles 32 readily separate from the eraser member 24.

The exterior of the ma net 26 preferably conforms to the interior surface of eas ng if! so as to be slidable therein. The part l2 of the casing may contain alight compression spring 34 which engages the end 36 of the magnet 26 so as normally to bias the end 28 of the magnet into engagement with the end 36 of the cup 22 of the eraser. member.

The magnet is also provided with means for manipulating the same in opposite directions relative to the casing Iii, said means comprising a finger piece 38 slidably mounted adjacent the exterior of the casing [6. Such finger piece is clearly shown in Figures 1 through 5, the same being transversely curved preferably to conform substantially to the cylindrical exterior of the casing H]. The outer surface of the finger piece 38 may also be knurled to facilitate engagement thereof by the user for manipulating the finger piece and the magnet in opposite directions.

Fixed to the finger piece 38 by riveting or connected thereto.

otherwise and extending transversely from the concave surface of said finger piece is a stem 40, the free end of the stem having a head 42 The surfaces 44 and 46 of the head conform to the inner cylindrical surface of the part M of the casing. Said part 14 is provided longitudinally thereof with a slot 48, said slot extendin inward from the sleeve I8 of the part l4. Said slot accommodates and guides the stem 45 and the surfaces 44 and 46 of the head 42 overlie the side edges defining the slot. Thus, the head 42 prevents accidental removal of the finger piece 38 laterally from the casing 10.

Intermediately of the ends of the magnet 26 is a recess 50 which receives the head 42 fixed to finger piece 38. clearly be seen that as the finger piece 38 is moved in opposite direction between the positions thereof respectively illustrated in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3, the magnet 26 will be moved into and out of engagement with the eraser member. It will therefore be seen that the finger piece 38 provides a simple, ready and convenient means for manipulating the magnet 26 and particularly for moving the same out of engagement with the eraser member, as illustrated in Figure 3.

In Fig. 6, there is illustrated a slightly different embodiment of means for holding the eraser member 24 within the cup 22. In said embodiment, an auxiiary cup-like member 52 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots 54 so as to provide a plurality of circumferentially disposed fingers 56, the outer ends of which are inturned for purposes of becoming imbedded within, and thus firmly engaging the yieldable eraser member 24. When removed from the cup 22, the fingers 56 of the auxiliary cup-like member 52 are shaped so that the outer ends of the fingers 56 will normally be spread outward slightly from the position thereof illustrated in Fig. 6. Said cup-like member is preferably formed from resilient steel and, when an eraser member 24 is inserted within the member 52, and the member 52 is inserted by being pressed within the cup 22, the fit between the member 52 and the walls of cup 22 is such that the fingers 56 of member52 will be in firm frictional engagement with the walls of the cup 22 and the outer ends of the fingers 56 will be embedded in the eraser member 24. Thus, firm contact engagement is provided between the cup 22, member 52, and eraser member 24, whereby magnetic current or flux will efiectively pass through said interengaged members so as to impart the force or flux of the magnet 26 to the eraser member 24.

After eraser member 24 has become worn beyond further use, the same may be readily replaced by a new eraser member within either the cup 22 of Figs. 2 and 3, or the auxiliary cuplike member 52 of Fig. 6, whereupon the replaced eraser member is instantly ready for use. It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention provides an eraser which is ca- From Figs. 2 and 3, it will eraser member, the erasure particles adhering to the eraser member are readily separated therefrom by either blowing upon the eraser or tapping the same so as to knock the particles therefrom. Notwithstanding the provision of a magnet within the present eraser, the overall Weight ofthe eraser assembly is relatively light, whereby the eraser may be readily manipulated without fatigue to the operator and the construction is of such nature that the eraser may be made in convenient size and, if desired, simulate a pencil or fountain pen in shape.

The construction of the eraser is also such that the only element thereof subject to Wear and replacement is the eraser member per se, and the cost of such eraser members is very small and thus inconsequential. The other elements of the eraser are capable of long use and may be manufactured from inexpensive material by a relatively inexpensive process. The assembly of the various components of the eraser is also relatively simple and inexpensive, requiring no elaborate or expensive equipment, most of the assembly operations being manual.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in its several embodiments and ha included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other Ways,

falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim as our invention:

1. An eraser comprising in combination, an eraser member formed from gradually expendable friction material having magnetizable particles interspersed throughout the material, and means associable with said eraser member and operable to impose a magnetic field thereupon.

2. An eraser comprising in combination, a rubber eraser member having magnetizable particles interspersed throughout the rubber, and means associable with said eraser member and operable to impose a magnetic field thereupon.

3. An eraser comprising in combination, an eraser member formed from gradually expendable friction material having magnetizable par ticles interspersed throughout the material, and a permanent magnet associable with said eraser member and operable to impose a magnetic field thereupon.

4. An eraser comprising in combination, an eraser member formed from gradually expendable friction material and having magnetizable 7 particles interspersed throughout the material, a cup-like member formed from magnetic current conducting material and supporting one end of said eraser member, and a permanent magnet associable with said cup-like member and operable to impose a magnetic field thereupon and upon said eraser member.

5. An eraser comprising in combination, an elongated holder, an eraser member formed from gradually expandable friction material having magnetizable particles interspersed throughout the material, said eraser member being supported by one end of said holder and extending therebeyond, and a permanent magnet supported by said holder and associable with said eraser member to impose a magnetic field thereupon.

6. An eraser comprising in combination, an elongated holder, an eraser member formed from gradually expendable friction material having magnetizable particles interspersed throughout the material, said eraser member being supported by oneend of said holder and extendingtherebeyond, and a. permanent magnet slidably supported by said holder for movement to and from engagement with said eraser member, said magnet when in contact with said eraser member imposing a magnetic field thereupon.

'7. An eraser comprising in combination, an elongated holder, an eraser member formed from gradually expendable friction material having magnetizable particles interspersed throughout thematerial, said eraser member being supported by one end of said holder and extending therebeyond, a permanent magnet slidabl supported by said holder for movement to and from engagement with said eraser member, said magnet when in contact with said eraser member imposing a magnetic field thereupon, and a spring within said holder operable normally to engage and bias said magnet into engagement with said eraser member.

8. An eraser comprising in combination, an elongated holder, an eraser member formed from gradually expendable friction material having magnetizable particles interspersed throughout the material, said eraser member being supported by one end of said holder and extending therebeyond, a permanent 'magnet slidably supported by said holder for movement to and from engagement with said eraser member, said magnet when in contact with said eraser member imposing a magnetic field thereupon, and a finger piece slidably mounted on the exterior of said holder and connected therethrough to said magnet, said finger piece being operable to move said magnet into and out of contact with said eraser member.

9. An eraser comprising in combination, an elongated holder comprising two separable telescoping parts, one of said parts being longitudinally slotted. an eraser member formed from gradually expendable friction material having magnetizable particles interspersed throughout the material, said eraser member being supported at one end of said holder and projecting therebeyond, a permanent magnet slidably supported within said holder, a finger piece mounted for slidable movement on the exterior Of said holder, and a stem connected to said fin er piece and extending through the slot in said one part of said holder and engaging said magnet, whereby, when said finger piece is moved in opposite directions, said magnet is moved into and out of engagement with said eraser member.

10. An eraser comprising in combination, an elongated holder comprising two separable telesco ing parts, one of said parts being longitudinally slotted, an eraser member formed from gradually expendable friction material having magnetizable particles interspersed. throughout the material. said eraser member being supported at one end of said holder and projecting therebeyond. a permanent magnet slidably supported within said holder, a finger piece mounted for slidable movement on the exterior of said holder,

a stem connected to said finger piece and extending through the slot in said one part of said holder and engaging said magnet, whereby, when said finger piece is moved in o posite directions, said magnet is moved into and out of engagement with said eraser member, and a spring within said holder and engageable with said magnet normally to biasit into engagement with said eraser member.

11. An eraser comprising in combination, an elon ated holder comprising two separable telescoping parts, one of said parts being longitudinally slotted, an eraser member formed, from gradually expendable friction material having magnetizable particles interspersed throughout the material, said eraser member being supported at one'end of said holder and projecting therebeyond, a permanent magnet slidably supported within said holder and having a recess therein, a finger piece mounted for slidable movement on the exterior of said holder, a stem connected to said finger piece and extending through the slot in said one part of said holder, and a head on said stem overlying the walls of said slot and slidably engageable with the interior of said holder, said head being disposed in said recess in said magnet, whereby, when said finger piece is moved in opposite directions, said magnet is moved into and out of engagement with said eraser member.

HORACE H. RAYMOND. SAMUEL O. RAYMOND.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 512,381 Keyes Jan. 9, 1894 1,617,478 Evans Feb. 15, 1927 1,831,393 Pierce Nov. 10, 1931 1,932,611 Whalen Oct. 31, 1933 1,966,101 Miller July 10, 1934 2,308,981 Kestler Jan. 19, 1943 2,486,869

Nicholas NOV. 1, 194,9 

